PHAGES FOR THE GLIDING BACTERIUM CYTOPHAGA-JOHNSONAE THAT INFECT ONLY MOTILE CELLS

Twenty-eight phages active against Cytophaga johnsonae have been isolated and placed into 16 groups based on phage size and morphology and on host range studies using a variety of mutants derived from C. johnsonae. Several lines of evidence support the idea that these phages infect only actively motile cells: (i) many mutants selected for resistance to one phage are nonmotile and are resistant to all phages, (ii) nonmotile mutants, selected for their inability to spread on plates, are resistant to all phages, (iii) when nonmotile mutants revert to the motile condition, they regain sensitivity to some or all phages, and (iv) carbony-cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone inhibits motility and prevents adsorption of a test phage. © 1979 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.